Child&#39;s vehicle



Feb. 3, 1931. Rf c. TowsEND ET AL. 97915391 oHILD's VEHICLE Fired gein. s, 192e Patented Feb.. 3, 1931 TENT RICE-IARD C. TOWNSEND, OF CANTON, AND PHILIP C. ROETTINGER, OF WYOMING, OHIO oHrLDs VEHICLE Application filed September 8, 1928. Serial No. 304,792.

rlhis invention relates to a combination knee pad and back rest for a childs vehicle. commonly known as a coaster.

en object of the invention is to provide a vehicle body with padded means upon which an operator may rest the knee of one leg ni le prop ling the device, with his free leg, salu padd d means being inclinable at will to provide a back rest for the operator while position upon the vehicle.

Aanother object is to provide a device for the purposes state-d which will be simple of operation and inexpensive of manufacture.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

F ig. 1 is an isometric view of a childs vehicle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is cross-sectional view on line 2-2 Fig. l showing the padded means in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the device in the inclined position whereby to form a back rest.

The device of the present invention is adapted for use upon any childs vehicle of the general type illustrated in the drawings. T he body portion 5 of the vehicle should, of course, be of such height that an operator may conveniently reach the pavement or ioor with one foot while resting the knee of the other leg upon the padded member G, when said member is in the lowered position indicated in Fig. 1.

rlhe vehicle, commonly known as a coaster, comp ises a substantially horizontal body portion 5, of flut material such as wood or steel. The body portion, if desired, may be provided with the usual upwardly extending sides such as are carried by a toy wagon or the like, although the preferable form of coaster has no sides. rlhe rear end 7 of the body portion 5 has secured thereto suitable brackets 8 upon which may be mounted an axle 9 carrying freely rotatable wheels 10.

The forward end ll of the body portion supports any suitable type of steering mechanism. For the purpose of explanation, a simple steering arrangement is shown in Fig. 1. Said steering mechanism comprises an axle support member l2 pivotally mounted at its mid point upon a` king boltlS passing through the body portion as indicated in Fig. 1. A dead axle 14, secured to the member 12, is adapted to receive wheels 15. 16 are rigidly mounted on the member 12 and extend forwardly beyond Lhe body 5. Said braces are adapted to pivotally support a steering handle 17 as shown at 170. Handle 17 thereby provides a means for pulling the vehicle as well as for steering it. rlhe steering mechanism, as stated before, may be constructed in any other suitable manner, as it forms no part of the instant invention.

lThe combination back rest and knee pad, indicated at 6 on the drawings, comprises a board or other substantially flat member 18 hingedly mounted upon the body portion along one edge 19. Any suitable type of hinge 20 may be employed for the purpose. Padding, indicated at 2l, is secured to one flat surface of board 18 to provide a cushion upon which the operator may rest his knee while propelling the coaster. By moving the member G about the hinge connections, it may be disposed in the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The representation in Fig. 2 shows member 6 in lowered position with pad or cushion 21 disposed face upward for receiving the knee of the operator as he propels the vehicle with one foot.

lvember 6 is retained in the position indicated in Fig. 8, by means of a pair of stays 22 pivotally mounted as at 2l upon the opposite sides 23 of member 18. Stays 22 are adapted to be disposed rearwardly of the back rest, as shown in Fig. 3, for abu'ting cooperative blocks suitably fastened to body 5. It should be noted that the stays 22 are of a length greater than the distance between Braces pivotal point 24 and hinge pin 20. The purpose f the above construction is to provide for automatic positioning ot' the stays 22. It should be clearly evident that as the member 18 is moved from one operative position to the other, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ends 26 of the stays will slide upon and remain in abutment with the body 5. Manual positioningot the stays 22 is thereby eliminated.

Abutment of the stays 22 upon the blocks 25 permits a predetermined degree of inclination et' board 18 relative to the seat or body portion 5. As shown in Fig. 2, the stays, when not in use, assume a. position in close proximity with the edges 23`ot board 18. The tree end 26 el each stay may be eut on a bias, as indicated, to insure substantial abut'- ment of the stay upon the blocks and body portion. lt is lo be understood that a. single stay may be providedinlieu of the pair oi stays, by making slight alterations in the mounting thereof upon the board 18.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the structural details of the device Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Vhat is claimed is:-

1. In a childs vehicle adapted 'for propulsion by the action ot the leg,v of an operator, the combination ot' a flat and sidcless body portion, an inclinable member hingedly mounted upon the body portion transii'ersely thereotand adapted normally to lie 'forwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of theL body portion, parking mate rial on the inclinable member and upon which the knee may be placed durine' the propelling movement, and self-positie 10' means Afor supporting the inclinable me r in in elined ilmsition whereby to form a` back rest disposed at an angle to the body portion.

2. ln a ehilds vehicle adapted tor propulsion by the action oi the leg' an onere tor, the eombina .fion oi" a dat and sidel body portion, an inclinable member liayinev an upper and a Vlower surl..ce and adapted normally to lie Jforwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the plane ot' the body portion and i* close proximity therewith, paddingmaterial upon tl e top sui-tace oi the inclinable member foriorming a knee pad upon ivheh the knee of the operator may rest duringl the propellingy movement, and support means eon'iprising pivotally mounted stays it'or retaining the inclinable member in inclined position whereby to form a back rest disposed at an angle to the body member.

3. Ina ehilds vehicle, the combination of a ilat and sideless body portion, an inclinable member hinfrcdly mounted transversely of thebody portion and intermediate the ends thereof, said member being padded upon its reariand adapted normally to lie forwardly 

